The Cleveland Cavaliers were looking to get back on track Sunday afternoon when they took on the Los Angeles Clippers.
They were coming off an ugly loss to the Detroit Pistons who were without star point guard Cade Cunningham, so this was a win they needed under their belt.
This loss came just as Cleveland looked like they were coming out of their worst stretch of the season, so fans began to panic again.
During this time, the team endured a four-game losing streak that was defined by All-Star Donovan Mitchell having one of the worst slumps of his career.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell controls the ball against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on March 21, 2025. Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Clippers were without superstar forward Kawhi Leonard, but still they made the game competitive.
But in the end, the Cavaliers prevailed, and it was largely on the back of a heroic performance from Mitchell.
The most impressive part of the guard's play was that he didn't go on his typical scoring barrage.
He scored 24 points which is nothing to sneeze at, but he left his fingerprints on the game in other areas that he normally doesn't.
Mitchell was exceptional on the defensive end, grabbing four steals and pulling down 11 defensive rebounds.
His biggest impact arguably came in the form of his playmaking where he dished out seven assists.
According to Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, the former All-NBA guard was so focused on getting teammates involved that they were imploring him to shoot.
After turning down multiple open looks, Atkinson said that his teammates told him "Come on, man. Shoot it, you're open."
On some teams, the players would welcome the opportunity for extra shots, but this quote from the game exemplifies the team's unselfish, tight-knit nature.
They know that in the playoffs they'll need Mitchell to carry the scoring load most nights to have success, so they want him to remain aggressive.
With just seven games left in the season, Cleveland has all but locked up the first seed in the Eastern Conference and is gearing up for what they hope will be a long playoff run.
There are still some things to clean up, but it looks like they're close to firing on all cylinders again just in time for the postseason.
Related: Cavs Send Bold Message to Evan Mobley After Performance Against Portland
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This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 5:12 AM.